Just so its out of way because this review is mostly negative, there were less POV switches than the previous books, which I liked. Anyway…
I think the worst thing about this book is Eislyn’s sudden romance with the fomor emperor. She goes from a runaway princess to an obedient wife in a single book. Her and thane’s romance in the first book was one of the best parts of this series, and its suddenly dropped for Bronze Abs who forces a girl to marry him and doesn’t tell her why. They haven’t even kissed yet, but their ‘romance’ feels very sudden and rushed. Bronze Abs goes from repetitively telling her ‘I can’t tell you’ every single time she asks a question, to lore dumping and throwing food at eachother. I feel like if Eislyn’s POVs were completely omitted from this book and she was given her own novella, it would have made the attraction between them more believable(though, im still not one for stockholm syndrome romances). Right now, it just seems like she wants to lick his bronze abs for seemingly no reason(which, btw, the reader is constantly reminded he has bronze abs almost every single chapter he is in. His only personality trait is being shirtless.) Eilsyn’s new owl doesn’t make any sense. Maybe it’ll be explained in the next novel, but i feel like her suddenly having a familar should be at least explained somewhat? Maybe some scenes of them together? They barely interacted. Her owl was just there.
And the emperor himself!!! Jesus christ. And here i thought Lorcan was repulsive for walking in on Reyna taking a bath and not leaving. He walks in on Eislyn reading a book and throws it into the fire when he realizes what it’s about. He won’t tell her why she’s there but gets mad when he finds her trying to learn herself?? You can’t blame me for preferring Thane over mr. Abs. Thane escorted her to the library(a place the emperor forbade her from going to after she was almost assaulted by one of HIS friends) and even helped her investigate the ruin. I can’t root for this guy if he’s just a dick with abs.
Dialogue seems flat and cliche at times. I’ve found myself rolling my eyes more than once.
The wood court king is… a villain. He’s not a very interesting character and is very similar to lorcan’s dad from the previous book. That’s it. He’s cruel and he drinks blood.
I don’t care about Mariel. Never have. Her POVs have been almost useless since book 1. I don’t care for her claim to the throne. It was very weird for the nobles to be on her side, tell her not to leave the castle during the battle, and then scold her for not leaving the castle? What??
Reyna’s shieldmaiden training. We never here anything else of it besides her being able to dodge arrows(not as repetitive as the last book but the author deems it inportant enough to remind us during every fight scene.) I also find it strange the wood court soldier commonly wield bow and arrows, but they cant dodge like her? Shouldn’t they too be fast and nimble?
The Ruin’s dialogue became repetitive very fast. Started skipping their paragraphs after awhile. Give up, Reyna! You’re a bad person, Reyna! You’re gonna kill everyone, Reyna! oh my god… you’re not the prophesized Bad Guy? What do I do now….
RIP to all those potential plotlines that were thrown out the window in/around book 2. Esilyn and Thane, first of all, a romance that was arguably better than whatever Reyna and Lorcan were doing. They were so sweet together. Lastly, Tarrah and her future baby daddy. All that hype in the first book just for them to be both killed off. Oh well!
I have nothing else to say. Excuse me while I sob over Thane and Glencora being possibly married.